encounter a roadblock

USAGE SUMMARY

"encounter a roadblock" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to face or come across an obstacle or difficulty. Example: During our hike, we encountered a roadblock in the form of a fallen tree blocking our path.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Dominion Claire (Roxanne McKee) makes a call that threatens Vega's security, as Alex, Noma and Michael Christopherr Egan, Kim Engelbrecht, Tom Wisdom) encounter a roadblock on their way home in this new episode.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

They unexpectedly encountered a roadblock where, Mr. Tous said, he was signaled to turn around.

The New York Times

I was planning to take Vova as far as we could go and turn around when we encountered a roadblock.

The New York Times

Suddenly the bus encounters a roadblock, and when the rumors stop flying, it becomes clear that Hindu mobs are rampaging against Muslims after the burning of a Hindu village.

The New York Times

But the authors encountered a roadblock.

Huffington Post

An attempt to strengthen the state's school-accountability system, favored by some reformers, also encountered a roadblock.

Los Angeles Times

McConnell claims Finicum fled in his diesel truck after encountering a roadblock that consisted of several heavy-duty police vehicles.

Vice

In the video, McConnell said that Finicum fled in his diesel truck after encountering a roadblock that consisted of several heavy-duty police vehicles.

Vice

McConnell claims the LaVoy Finicum, the group's spokesman, fled in his truck after encountering a roadblock that consisted of several heavy-duty police vehicles.

Vice

Further progress was made over the next week, but on 4 May the advance was slowed when they encountered a roadblock defended by a field gun along with a machine gun, mines and other improvised explosive devices.

Wikipedia

Plans to stop the convoy near the A303 collapsed when a convoy outrider spotted the roadblock and directed the travellers down a side road, where they encountered a second roadblock.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In metaphorical contexts, it is often effective to follow the phrase with a prepositional phrase like "to innovation" or "to progress" to clarify the impact of the obstacle.

Common error

Do not use "encounter a roadblock" when the situation is irreversible or a total failure. A roadblock implies a temporary challenge that might be cleared or bypassed. If the path is permanently closed, consider using "reach a dead end" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encounter a roadblock" serves as a transitive verb phrase where "encounter" is the action and "roadblock" is the direct object. Ludwig AI confirms this as a standard and correct construction in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Based on the linguistic data provided by Ludwig, "encounter a roadblock" is a highly versatile and correct phrase. While the exact singular form appears less frequently than its plural or past-tense counterparts in this specific dataset, its components are widely utilized across the most prestigious English-language publications. Ludwig AI results highlight that the phrase is equally at home describing a physical police barrier in The Guardian as it is describing a bureaucratic delay in the Huffington Post or a molecular obstruction in eLife. Writers should feel confident using it to add a slightly descriptive, metaphorical flair to reports of progress being interrupted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

face an obstacle

More general and frequently used in both personal and professional contexts.

come up against a barrier

Emphasizes the structural or physical nature of the challenge.

experience a setback

Focuses on the loss of progress rather than the barrier itself.

hit a snag

A more informal or idiomatic way to describe a small, unexpected problem.

confront a hurdle

Implies an obstacle that must be cleared to move forward.

run into a brick wall

An idiomatic expression suggesting a complete and forceful stop in progress.

hit a bottleneck

Describes a specific type of roadblock caused by a narrow flow of resources.

meet with resistance

Suggests that the roadblock is caused by human opposition or difficulty.

reach an impasse

Specifically refers to a situation where progress is impossible due to disagreement.

find oneself at a standstill

Describes the resulting state of being unable to move forward.

FAQs

How do I use "encounter a roadblock" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe both literal and figurative situations. For example: "The legal team began to "encounter a roadblock" when the key witness refused to testify".

What can I say instead of "encounter a roadblock"?

Depending on the tone, you could use "face an obstacle", "hit a snag" or "run into a problem".

Is it "encounter a roadblock" or "encountering roadblocks"?

Both are correct. "Encounter a roadblock" is the base verb phrase, while "encountering roadblocks" is the present participle form used for ongoing actions or plural obstacles.

Is "encounter a roadblock" formal enough for an essay?

Yes, it is perfectly suitable for academic writing. Ludwig AI results show frequent use in scientific journals like eLife and Science Magazine, as well as high-quality news sources.